grapheine
User2288 After having done a lot of research, I have discovered that best place to install an app from depends on the app. So no clear categorical answer.
For example OsmAnd+ is best from fdroid, because you get the full pro app without limitation and without any proprietary stuff.
Same for Geometric Weather. The most blob free one is only available from fdroid.
Brave is only available from Play.
Telegram for example, best option (for foss) is the unofficial foss version from github.
So the decision is per app dependent and you have to figure it out for each app, unfortunately. Its not categorically the case that github is best, or fdroid is bad. Even Gplay sometimes is the best option. It just depends.
Sometimes github version contains blobs you may want to avoid. Sometimes the official website contains blobs in the apk that other sources may not (telegram for example).
In truth there are several factors that affect "betterness" for a source:
- privacy
- ease of update/maintenance
- reliability
- security
The best source depends on your priorities really.
The same app offered from different sources can be slightly different as explained in the quote.
Ease of updating and reliability is also important factors for one's choice of source. For example the aurora app offered from its official gitlab page was not being updated for several months a while back, which made it unreliable at that time, so i switched to getting the Aurora app from fdroid.
I initially started with the approach of thinking "direct apk source is best" so i downloaded most apps that way. But over time I've kind of switched to fdroid because "practicality and ease of maintenance" actually affect you in time.
Unfortunately its not clearcut and kind of depends on the app and your own preferences.
For direct downloads obtanium is a must. So get it.